Cover for third rails.



PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

I H. 0.MORGAN. oovna FOR THIRD RAILS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9. 1908.

NO MODEL.

wbhwmy UNITED STATES Patented December 8, 1903.

HARRY'C. MORGAN, OF LAGRANGE, ILLINOIS.

COVER FOR THIRD RAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,556, dated DecemberS, 1903.

Application filed May 9, 1903. fierial No. 156.432. (N model.)

, grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Covers for Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in covers for third rails of electrio-railway systems; and its object is to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be readilyplaced upon a third rail, so as to prevent persons from coming into contact therewith. I

A further object is to so construct the cover as to permit it to open automatically to enable the trolley to travel freely upon the rail.

A further objectis to provide means whereby the cover will automatically resume its normal position over the third rail after the trolley has passed from therebetween.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a cover which is formed of a series of sections hinged to the ties of the railway at opposite sides of the third rail, and these sections are of such size as to contact with each other at their upper edges at points directly above the center of the rail. The sections are held in this closed position by means of springs, which are connected to the hinges thereof. The ends of the contacting edges of the sections are cut away or tapered, so that they will be parted automatically when the trolley comes into contact therewith.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of aportion of.

my improved third-rail cover. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; and Fig. 3 is a section on line a: as, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a third rail, mounted in any suitable manner upon ties 2 of a railway, and arranged at suitable intervals upon these ties at opposite sides of the third rail are plates 3, having ears 4 extending upward therefrom and within which are arranged pivot-pins 5.

These pins extend through ears 6, projecting downward from a cover-section 7, which is L-shaped in cross-section. A spring 8 is mounted. upon each pin 5, and one end thereof engages a cover-section 7, while the other end bears upon the adjacent plate 3. As the cover-sections 7 are arranged at opposite sides of the third rail and as said sections are similar, it is obvious that their upper edges will normally contact at points directly within the center of the third rail, and it is therefore impossible to come into contact with the rail. The ends of the contacting edges of sections 7 are cut away or tapered, as-shown at 9, and it is therefore obvious that when the trolley of a car contacts with these ends 9 of the cover-sections it will force the same apart, thereby tensioning the springs 8.

After the trolley has passed from between two of the sections and into position between the two adjoining it will be understood that those sections passed will promptly swing back into their normal or closing positions. It will be seen that this device can be readily placed in position over third rails located above ground.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A cover for third rails consisting of plates adapted to be secured at opposite sides of a rail and having ears thereon, pivot pins mounted in the ears, sections L-shaped in cross section pivotally mounted upon the pins, springs upon the pivot-pins and engaging the plates, and sections whereby the upper edges of the sections are held normally in contact, the ends of said edges. being cut away.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY O. MORGAN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN P. WILLIAMS, D. S. DICKSEN. 

